Clothes-rack.



PATENTED 00T. 15, 1907.

J. A. NEWMAN.

CLOTHES RACK.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 23. 1906.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

No. 868,112. PATENTED 00T. 15,1907. J. A.,NBWMAN.

CLOTHES RAGK. APPLICATION FILED JUNE z3. 1906.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

JAMES A. NEWMAN, OF COLUMBUS, OIiIIO.

CLOTHES-RACK.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 15, 1907.

Application filed June 23,1906. Serial No. 323,084.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, .IAMEs A. NEWMAN, a citizen of the United States, risiding at Columbus, in the county of Franklin and State of Ohio, have invented new and useful Improvements in Clothes-Racks, of which the following is a'specilication.

This invention relates to clothes racks. i

A rack involving rny invention may be advantageously employed in many different ways, for example, to support articles of apparel to be dried.

The rack is simple in construction, light yet strong, will support a large amount of clothing; can be inexpensively made and is foldable or collapsible so that when not in use it may be made to occupy a small amount of space.

The device involves other advantageous features which with the foregoing will be set forth at length in the following description, while the novelty of the invention will be included in the claims succeeding said description.

In the drawings accompanying and forming a part of this specification I illustrate in detail one effective form of embodiment of the invention which to enable those skilled in the art to practice said invention will be fully set forth in said description.

Referring to said drawings, Figure lis a perspective view of a rack embodying my invention and showing said rack as set up for use. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same in its collapsible or knock-down condition. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section of one of the legs. Fig. 4 is a detail view of a slight modification of spreading means hereinafter more particularly described.

Like characters refer to like parts throughout the several views.

The rack is represented as including in its make-up a plurality of legs as 2, four of such legs being ordinarily provided. These legs are illustrated as hingedly connected at their upper ends to the head or crown piece 3. By virtue of such hinged relation between the head and legs, the former may be opened out as shown in Fig. l or can be folded together as indicated in Fig. 2. Each leg 2 carries an arm 4 and I will describe in detail the relation between one leg and its coperating arm and such description will apply to the other members as they are of duplicate construction. The leg 2 has a longitudinal slot 5 across which the pin 6 is shown as extended, said pin constituting a supporting pivot for the arm 4, the arm and leg being so related as to permit endwise motion of the arm. This endwise motion is secured in the present instance through the agency of the stirrup 7 attached to the inner side of the arm 4 near its upper end, the pin 6 being in the space or slot between the stirrup and the arm. When the arm 4 is in its inoperative position it lies against the outer surface of the leg 2 and extends longitudinally of the latter. Said arm lits between cleats or strips as 8 situated at opposite sides of the slot 5 and also between pins as 9 extending from said leg below said slot. The strips or cleats and pins effectually prevent sidewise movement of the arm with respect to the leg when the former is in its folded relation. When, however, the arm is swung up to its operative position, at which time it is horizontally or substantially horizontally disposed, the strips or cleats 8 prevent sidewise motion of said arm. On the rear side of the leg 2 and across the slot 5, above the pivot 6 is a cross bar 10 which constitutes a means for holding the arm 4 positively in a horizontal position. It will be assumed that an arm is down or folded, that the legs 2 are spread apart and that it is desired to use the arm 4. 'To do this the following procedure is adopted. Said arm is swung up to a horizontal position about the pin 6 and is thrust rearward until the upper or inner end of said arm is carried under the cross bar or stop 10 which engages over the arm 4 to prevent the forward or outer portion of said arm from dropping whereby such forward or outer portion can be utilized to sustain articles of any character. The arm 4 is, therefore,`loosely connected with the leg 2 for longitudinal and swinging movements.

The legs are shown as positively held apart by spreading devices 11 made preferably in the form of rods and having duplicate pins as 12 at their opposite ends adapted to fit notches in brackets as 13 attached to the sides of the legs, each leg being equipped with two of such brackets. These brackets may be located at any desirable place in the length of the legs. The pins 12 may be separated from the brackets for the purpose of collapsing the structure or frame. When the frame is set up, however, the pins 12 of the rods 11 will be fitted in the notches of the several brackets 13 and the ends of said rods will bear against cooperating brackets to positively hold the legs open or apart. When it is desired to knock down the structure the rods will be lifted from place,- after which the legs can be folded 'together to occupy the relation shown in Fig. 2. In addition to the brackets 13 each leg carries on one side thereof an upper bracket as 14 and a lower bracket as 15 in alinement respectively with each other longitudinally of the legs. Each upper bracket 14 is perforated and into these perforations one pin 12 of each rod 11 is adapted to fit, the lower pins being adapted to fit notches in the lower brackets 15, said notches being shown as of i-rregular form so as to hold the rods securely in place. It will be assumed that a rod 11 is lying against a leg 2 and is held thereto by the two brackets 14 and 15. To separate the rod from said leg the rod is moved laterally to disconnect it from the lower bracket 15 and is afterwards slipped downwardly away from the upper bracket 14. These rods 11 may be utilized for supporting articles if desired. I connect the several legs by series of cords each designated by 16, there being shown three of such series, although their number is not essential. These also the intersecting cords 17. There are three series of these intersecting cords 17. There is an advantage following the connection of these cords with the inner sides of the legs in that when the structure is folded up, the legs inclose the cords so that the latter do not extend outside the folded structure. From the under side of the head 3 is pendent a cord 18 which extends downward to the lowerrnost intersecting cords 17 and is connected with the latter at their junction, such cord 18 when the device is folded up serving to raise cord 17.

On the inner sides of the legs 4 and at longitudinally separated points are fastened thereto blocks each designated by 19, the blocks being adapted to engage each other laterally when the frame is folded up in order to prevent sidewise motion of said legs.

In Fig'. 4 I have shown a slight modification. In this figure the rod 1.0/ is shown as hingedly connected at 10 with a coperating leg, the other end of said rod having a pin like one of the pins l2 to tit in the notch of a bracket as 13 hereinbefore described.

What I claim is:

1. A clothes rack comprising a head, legs hinged to said head, and arms'connected with the respective legs for I cords are connected to the inner sides of the legs as are longitudinal and swinging motion relative thereto, and means on the legs for holding the arms in their operative positions.

2. A clothes rack involving a leg, having a longitudinal slot, a pin extending across said slot,. an arm, said pin constituting a pivot for the arm, and the arm being mounted for endwise motion with respect to the pivot, whereby the arm can be laid against the leg or can assume an angular position with respect thereto, and a second pin crossing said slot to overlie the inner portion of the arm when the latter is in said angular position.

3. A clothes rack involving a leg` having a longitudinal slot, a pin extending across said slot, an arm, said pin constituting a pivot for the arm, and the arm being mounted for endwise motion with respect to the pivot, whereby the arm can be laid against the leg or can assume :In angular position with respect theretoy a second pin crossing said slot to overlie the inner portion of the arm when the latter is in said angular position, strips at opposite sides of said slot, and pins on the leg below the slot, the arni being adapted to fit between said pins and strips when folded against the leg.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set iny presence of two subscribingl witnesses.

hand in JAMES A. NEWMAN.

Witnesses z C. E. JUs'rrN, THEODonn WEYANT. 

